Lady Beavers walk off vs. DCCC

There’s no more iconic or exciting way for a ballgame to end than with a dramatic walk-off grand slam in the home team’s final at-bat. But how often do you really get to see that?You would have seen it if you had been at Angood Field on Monday afternoon as Fernanda Garcia clubbed one over the right-center fiel...

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By Neul DePew

PrattTribune - Pratt, KS

By Neul DePew

Posted Mar. 19, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Updated Mar 19, 2013 at 4:20 PM

By Neul DePew

Posted Mar. 19, 2013 at 4:16 PM
Updated Mar 19, 2013 at 4:20 PM

Pratt

There’s no more iconic or exciting way for a ballgame to end than with a dramatic walk-off grand slam in the home team’s final at-bat. But how often do you really get to see that?

You would have seen it if you had been at Angood Field on Monday afternoon as Fernanda Garcia clubbed one over the right-center field fence with the bases juiced in the bottom of the 7th inning to cap a Pratt Community College come-from-behind victory—stunning the visiting Dodge City Lady Conquistadors 12-11.

The Beavers and Conqs traded games in the twin-bill that featured contrasting styles. In the opener, the pitchers were in control as DCCC eked out a narrow 2-1 win. The nightcap saw both teams light it up and Pratt walked off with the victory thanks to Garcia’s heroics.

In the first game, Brenda Novelo drove in a run for PCC in the first inning. That held up until the top of the 7th when Dodge scratched out a pair of runs. When Pratt could not answer in the bottom of the 7th, the Lady Conqs were able to claim the 2-1 win.

In the finale, the score was close early, 3-2 DCCC. Then Dodge seemed to be taking control in the middle innings. Plating runs on a 3-run blast in the top of the 5th, the Conqs stretched their lead to a seemingly comfortable 10-3.

But Pratt refused to go quietly as they pushed across 5 runs of their own in the bottom of the 5th, the big blow a 3-run round-tripper from Brenda Novelo. With the score 10-8, neither team touched the plate in the 6th.

Dodge added an insurance run in the top of the 7th on another home run. Down 11-8, PCC rallied in their final at-bat. With one out, Stephanie Seewer drew a base on balls. Melissa Williams legged out an infield hit and Rachael Schoonmaker singled to load the bases.

That brought Fernanda Garcia to the dish and she delivered a line drive to right center that cleared the fence for a walk-off grand slam, her teammates pouring out of the dugout to greet her at home plate with the obligatory friendly beat-down as that gave PCC the 12-11 come-from-behind victory.

With the doubleheader split, Pratt moves to 10-16 on the season. They continue the homestand this weekend as they take on KCK Friday at 3 p.m. and Highland Saturday at noon